This Week in Sarasota: Thursday, March 30

THURSDAY, MARCH 30

25th Annual Silver Fox Show: ‘Seasons of Love’

7 p.m. at Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave. W.

$29

Call 488-1115.

The Silver Foxes, a troupe of professionally directed volunteer performers present a Carol Burnett-style variety show with singing, dancing and sketch comedy.

Great Performers Series: Piano Duo Sergei Babayan and Daniil Trifonov

7:30 p.m. at The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail

$37 to $65

Call 225-6500.

Sarasota Concert Association concludes its 72nd Great Performers Series season with the piano duo of Sergei Babayan and his student Daniil Trifonov, who will perform a program including Schumann’s Andante and Variations for Two Pianos, Schubert’s Fantasie in F Minor, selections from Brahms’ Hungarian Dances and Rachmaninoff’s Two Suites for Two Pianos. 

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

Jazz at 2: Patricia Dean Trio

2 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3975 Fruitville Road

$15; $10 for members

Call 366-1552.

Patricia Dean, drummer and vocalist, performs with pianist William Evans and bassist Joe Porter.

Wine Walk to Cá d’Zan

5:30 p.m. at The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road

$135 to $200 

Call 358-3180.

This annual fundraiser raises money to maintain John and Mable's historic mansion. This year's theme pits red and white wines against one another. 

‘Footloose’

7:30 p.m. at the Players Centre For Performing Arts, 838 N. Tamiami Trail

$25 to $30

Call 365-2494.

A Chicago transplant is shocked to learn his new small farm town has outlawed dancing and rock ’n’ roll music. Runs through April 9.

Sarasota Film Festival Opening Night

5:30 p.m. at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

Film tickets $25 to $60; Party tickets $80 to $150

Call 366-6200.

The Sarasota Film Festival kicks off with opening night film "Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton." Director Rory Kennedy returns to the film festival with her second opening-night film, this time an intimate documentary of charismatic big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton. Following the film, the festival hosts an opening-night party, now a block party on North Pineapple Ave., outside the opera house. 

Whiskey Obsession Festival Grand Tasting 

7:30 (VIP entrance at 6:30 p.m.) at Michael’s On East, 1212 S. East Ave.

$45 to $195

Call 400-9889.

Entering its fifth year, the Whiskey Obsession Festival is back and bigger than ever. In fact, this year, the event will become the largest festival of its kind in the country. Featuring 2,500 guests, whiskeys from around the world and 25 different classes and tastings spanning four days, Whiskey Obsession lives up to its name. 

Masterworks 7: Magnificent Seven

8 p.m. at the Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton

Tickets from $33

Call 953-3434.

Sarasota Orchestra presents this concert featuring Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and Rossini's William Tell Overture, also known as the theme for the "Lone Ranger," as well as Mendelssohn's audacious Piano Concerto No. 1, showcasing French pianist Bertrand Chamayou.

‘Bo-Nita’

8 p.m. at the Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St.

$28; $20 under 40; $5 for students

Call 321-1397.

Urbanite Theatre's newest production, "Bo-Nita," is a one-woman show, in which the titular character recounts a humorous, heartfelt story of family dysfunction through the perspective of seven different characters. Runs through April 30.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

‘Embracing Our Differences’ Annual Outdoor Exhibit

All day at Bayfront Park, Downtown Sarasota

Free

Call 404-5710.

This annual outdoor exhibit features works highlighting the cultural differences that make our community unique. Runs through May 31

Manuel Barrueco

7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3975 Fruitville Road

$35; $30 for members; $5 for students

Call 362-2991.

Guitar Sarasota presents Cuban classical guitarist Manuel Barrueco, who has performed across the country for the last three decades.

‘The Great Society’

8 p.m. at the FSU Center for Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail

$27 to $80

Call 351-8000.

President Lyndon Johnson was a unique figure in American politics. He was the anti-JFK: crude not smooth; Texan, not east coast elite; and a face like a battlefield. Robert Schenkkan’s “The Great Society” unleashes him on stage. The play is a follow up to Schenkkan’s “All the Way,” one of last season’s standout performances at the Asolo Rep. Jack Willis, the actor who originated the role, will portray Johnson this year. While the script is great, it’s the actor who makes the difference. Willis channels LBJ in an acclaimed performance. It’s not a surface imitation, but a grasp of the man’s soul. Runs through April 2.

FST Improv

8:30 p.m. at the Bowne’s Lab Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave.

$12 to $15

Call 366-9000.

Inject some humor into your weekend with this laugh-out-loud performance from FST Improv.

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

Out of This World!

3 p.m. at the Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way

$20 to $25; $5 students

Call 926-7677.

The Pops Orchestra of Bradenton and Sarasota presents this concert with Martha Mooke, an electric five-string violist who uses various effects pedals to create a truly out-of-this world sound. She will join the Pops Orchestra to present two original works, in which she and orchestra members will improvise, followed by programming that includes music from "Star Wars," "Star Trek" and other well-known films.

MONDAY, APRIL 3

Young Artist: Michael Mendez

7:30 p.m. at the Westcoast Black Theatre, 1646 10th Way

$25 to $100 

Call 366-1505.

Westcoast Black Theatre artist Michael Mendez performs in his third song-and-dance showcase.

International Chamber Music Festival Program I

8 p.m. at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.

$40 for a single ticket

Call 366-8450, Ext. 7.

La Musica presents the first concert in its annual chamber music festival, featuring Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D minor No. 1, Op. 49, Webern, Langsamer Satz for String Quartet and R. Strauss Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 13. Festival runs through April 13.

TUESDAY, APRIL 4

Conversation about the Circus: Howard Tibbals

10:30 a.m. at The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road

$5

Call 358-3180.

Circus fan extraordinaire Howard Tibbals hosts a talk and signs his book in celebration of the 10th anniversary of The Howard Brothers Model at The Ringling.

Guest Speaker Alexander Dinelaris

6:45 p.m. at Urbanite Theatre, 1487 Second St.

$275

Call 321-1397.

Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning screenwriter of "Birdman" and co-producer of "The Revenant" Alexander Dinelaris will speak about how his work in the theater influenced his career.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

Chagall Nights: The Sarasota Ballet

6 p.m. at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 S. Palm Ave.

$50; $40 for members

Call 366-5731.

Experience the Sleby Gardens exhibition with food, drinks and a performance by the Sarasota Ballet.